Xiong, DonglanFeng, RuiYang, ShengLin, TingyanChen, Xiangqi2020-11-182020-11-182020-01Xiong Donglan, Feng Rui, Yang Sheng, Lin Tingyan, Chen Xiangqi. Antitumor activity of interleukin-18 on A549 human lung cancer cell line. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics. 2020 Jan; 15(6): 1635-16410973-1482http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/213583Objective: In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of interleukin (IL)-18 on A549 human lung cancer cell line and evaluated the potential of IL-18 therapy in lung cancer. Materials and Methods: We generated a human IL-18 lentiviral expression vector and examined three groups of A549 cells, including nontransduced cells and cells transduced with either IL-18 or an empty lentiviral expression vector. IL-18 expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were examined using Western blotting, methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of the T helper 1 (Th1) cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Th2 cytokine IL-4 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Compared to the other groups of cells, A549 cells transduced with the IL-18 lentiviral expression vector exhibited significant increases in IL-18 expression, apoptosis, and the fraction of cells in G0 and G1 phases of the cell cycle and significant decrease in proliferation. Furthermore, ELISA results showed that IFN-γ expression increased significantly and IL-4 decreased in A549 cells transfected with IL-18 lentivirus expression vector. Conclusion: Using a lentiviral expression vector, IL-18 was expressed stably and efficiently in A549 cells, which showed attenuated proliferation and tumor cell growth, and enhanced tumor cell apoptosis. IL-18 expression also induced the secretion of IFN-γ, while decreasing the production of IL-4, therefore restoring the balance between Th1/Th2 cell subsets. These findings further demonstrated the antitumor activity of IL-18 and might open new therapeutic avenues for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.Apoptosisinterleukin-18lentiviral vectorlung cancerproliferationJournal ArticleIndiaDepartment of Respiratory, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital; Department of Oncology, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine; Fujian Medical University Stem Cell Research Institute, Fujian, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian; 6Respiratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian; 6Respiratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China